Wednesday, October 30, 2019

PP3003 Research Question Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

PP3003 Research Question Paper - Essay Example Milward suggests that the founding fathers of the EU actually intended their states to maintain sovereignty in the system and that only by binding the economies of the states to some extent together could their independence in a rapidly changing world be maintained. As Milward wrote in his The European Rescue of the Nation-State, "The reinvigorated nation-state had to choose the surrender of a degree of national sovereignty to sustain its reassertion . . .† (Milward 1992) The post-war system was such that European states would have had a harder time existing if they did not rely on one another. Without the EU they would not have as much independence as they have today. This is an interesting argument but is not a convincing one. It is one that makes more sense in the 1990s than it does in the aftermath of the recent expansion and economic crisis. The truth is that by overreaching, the EU has come to damage the independence of the nation state. Countries such as Greece and Irela nd have given up a great deal of sovereignty in recent months (Brown 2011). The EU bureaucracy and power have grown dramatically and eclipsed weaker countries. The EU has become, in some senses, a monster that has a life of its own. Nation states are vanishing within its bailout mechanism and refusal to allow individual devaluation. Milward's argument may have made more sense when he first made it but time has not been kind to it. Bomberg, E. (2003): The European Union: How Does It Work? (The New European Union Series). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Brown, JM (Jan. 2011): "How the Celtic Tiger Lost its Roar", Prospect. Milward, A (1992): The European Rescue of the Nation-State. New York: Routeledge. 2) What impact did the ECJ’s rulings in the Van Gend en Loos and Costa cases have on the development of the EU legal order? The rulings led to the establishment of the fact that the treaty creating the EC also created a new legal order, effectively creating a supra-national bod y of law. The Van Gend en Loos case related to tariffs between companies (Barnard 2007). One country wanted to raise a tariff on a chemical but this was found to breach EC law, as the purpose of the treaty was to reduce tariffs between countries. For the first time, it was determined that countries were required to obey rules higher than those created in their own legislatures. The countries of the EC were binding themselves together with new laws that in many senses encroached upon their independence and sovereignty. This case created the doctrine of direct effect, which was perhaps not foreseeable some of the new signatories to the EC treaty, whereby provisions in the treaty could have direct legal effect and overpower their own domestic law. Costa is a case that confirmed this idea. EC/EU law is paramount where a conflict occurs between the two laws. This has since been somewhat weakened by many national courts which suggest that this type of paramountcy only really occurs when t he EU law is in sync with the national constitution of the affected country. Not every EU law will therefore be paramount over every national law. There is some room to manoeuvre (Kent 2001). We can see from this important rulings by the ECJ the beginning of the legal order of the EU superstate. There were many unforeseen consequences to the signing of the first treaty and the beginning of ever closer union. Many legal

Monday, October 28, 2019

Genetically Foods Essay Example for Free

Genetically Foods Essay Genetically-modified foods (GM foods) have made a big splash in the news lately. European environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods for months, and recent controversial studies about the effects of genetically-modified corn pollen on monarch butterfly caterpillars1, 2 have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness in the U. S. In response to the upswelling of public concern, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held three open meetings in Chicago, Washington, D. C., and Oakland, California to solicit public opinions and begin the process of establishing a new regulatory procedure for government approval of GM foods3. I attended the FDA meeting held in November 1999 in Washington, D. C. , and here I will attempt to summarize the issues involved and explain the U. S. governments present role in regulating GM food. What are genetically-modified foods? The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant. The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. The best known example of this is the use of B. t. genes in corn and other crops. B. t. , or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. B. t. crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer. For two informative overviews of some of the techniques involved in creating GM foods, visit Biotech Basics (sponsored by Monsanto) http://www. biotechknowledge. monsanto. com/biotech/bbasics. nsf/index or Techniques of Plant Biotechnology from the National Center for Biotechnology Education http://www. ncbe. reading. ac. uk/NCBE/GMFOOD/techniques. What are some of the advantages of GM foods? The world population has topped 6 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways: Pest resistance Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. Growing GM foods such as B. t.corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market4, 5. Herbicide tolerance For some crops, it is not cost-effective to remove weeds by physical means such as tilling, so farmers will often spray large quantities of different herbicides (weed-killer) to destroy weeds, a time-consuming and expensive process, that requires care so that the herbicide doesnt harm the crop plant or the environment. Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. For example, Monsanto has created a strain of soybeans genetically modified to be not affected by their herbicide product Roundup  ®6. A farmer grows these soybeans which then only require one application of weed-killer instead of multiple applications, reducing production cost and limiting the dangers of agricultural waste run-off7. Disease resistance There are many viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases. Plant biologists are working to create plants with genetically-engineered resistance to these diseases8, 9. Cold tolerance Unexpected frost can destroy sensitive seedlings. An antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this antifreeze gene, these plants are able to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings10. (Note: I have not been able to find any journal articles or patents that involve fish antifreeze proteins in strawberries, although I have seen such reports in newspapers. I can only conclude that nothing on this application has yet been published or patented.) Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance As the world population grows and more land is utilized for housing instead of food production, farmers will need to grow crops in locations previously unsuited for plant cultivation. Creating plants that can withstand long periods of drought or high salt content in soil and groundwater will help people to grow crops in formerly inhospitable places11, 12. Nutrition Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. If rice could be genetically engineered to contain additional vitamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could be alleviated. For example, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in third world countries. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have created a strain of golden rice containing an unusually high content of beta-carotene (vitamin A)13. Since this rice was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation14, a non-profit organization, the Institute hopes to offer the golden rice seed free to any third world country that requests it. Plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content. However, the grant that funded the creation of these two rice strains was not renewed, perhaps because of the vigorous anti-GM food protesting in Europe, and so this nutritionally-enhanced rice may not come to market at all15. Pharmaceuticals Medicines and vaccines often are costly to produce and sometimes require special storage conditions not readily available in third world countries. Researchers are working to develop edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes16, 17. These vaccines will be much easier to ship, store and administer than traditional injectable vaccines. Phytoremediation Not all GM plants are grown as crops. Soil and groundwater pollution continues to be a problem in all parts of the world. Plants such as poplar trees have been genetically engineered to clean up heavy metal pollution from contaminated soil18. How prevalent are GM crops? What plants are involved? According to the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are over 40 plant varieties that have completed all of the federal requirements for commercialization (http://vm. cfsan. fda. gov/%7Elrd/biocon). Some examples of these plants include tomatoes and cantalopes that have modified ripening characteristics, soybeans and sugarbeets that are resistant to herbicides, and corn and cotton plants with increased resistance to insect pests. Not all these products are available in supermarkets yet; however, the prevalence of GM foods in U. S. grocery stores is more widespread than is commonly thought. While there are very, very few genetically-modified whole fruits and vegetables available on produce stands, highly processed foods, such as vegetable oils or breakfast cereals, most likely contain some tiny percentage of genetically-modified ingredients because the raw ingredients have been pooled into one processing stream from many different sources. Also, the ubiquity of soybean derivatives as food additives in the modern American diet virtually ensures that all U. S. consumers have been exposed to GM food products. The U. S. statistics that follow are derived from data presented on the USDA web site at http://www. ers. usda. gov/briefing/biotechnology/. The global statistics are derived from a brief published by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) at http://www. isaaa. org/publications/briefs/Brief_21. htm and from the Biotechnology Industry Organization at http://www. bio.org/foodag/1999Acreage. Thirteen countries grew genetically-engineered crops commercially in 2000, and of these, the U. S. produced the majority. In 2000, 68% of all GM crops were grown by U. S. farmers. In comparison, Argentina, Canada and China produced only 23%, 7% and 1%, respectively. Other countries that grew commercial GM crops in 2000 are Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, Spain, and Uruguay. Soybeans and corn are the top two most widely grown crops (82% of all GM crops harvested in 2000), with cotton, rapeseed (or canola) and potatoes trailing behind. 74% of these GM crops were modified for herbicide tolerance, 19% were modified for insect pest resistance, and 7% were modified for both herbicide tolerance and pest tolerance. Globally, acreage of GM crops has increased 25-fold in just 5 years, from approximately 4. 3 million acres in 1996 to 109 million acres in 2000 almost twice the area of the United Kingdom. Approximately 99 million acres were devoted to GM crops in the U. S. and Argentina alone. In the U. S. , approximately 54% of all soybeans cultivated in 2000 were genetically-modified, up from 42% in 1998 and only 7% in 1996. In 2000, genetically-modified cotton varieties accounted for 61% of the total cotton crop, up from 42% in 1998, and 15% in 1996. GM corn and also experienced a similar but less dramatic increase. Corn production increased to 25% of all corn grown in 2000, about the same as 1998 (26%), but up from 1. 5% in 1996. As anticipated, pesticide and herbicide use on these GM varieties was slashed and, for the most part, yields were increased (for details, see the UDSA publication at http://www. ers. usda. gov/publications/aer786/). What are some of the criticisms against GM foods? Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight. It seems that everyone has a strong opinion about GM foods. Even the Vatican19 and the Prince of Wales20 have expressed their opinions. Most concerns about GM foods fall into three categories: environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic concerns. Environmental hazards Unintended harm to other organisms Last year a laboratory study was published in Nature21 showing that pollen from B. t. corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars. Monarch caterpillars consume milkweed plants, not corn, but the fear is that if pollen from B. t. corn is blown by the wind onto milkweed plants in neighboring fields, the caterpillars could eat the pollen and perish. Although the Nature study was not conducted under natural field conditions, the results seemed to support this viewpoint. Unfortunately, B. t. toxins kill many species of insect larvae indiscriminately; it is not possible to design a B. t. toxin that would only kill crop-damaging pests and remain harmless to all other insects. This study is being reexamined by the USDA, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other non-government research groups, and preliminary data from new studies suggests that the original study may have been flawed22, 23. This topic is the subject of acrimonious debate, and both sides of the argument are defending their data vigorously. Currently, there is no agreement about the results of these studies, and the potential risk of harm to non-target organisms will need to be evaluated further. Reduced effectiveness of pesticides Just as some populations of mosquitoes developed resistance to the now-banned pesticide DDT, many people are concerned that insects will become resistant to B. t. or other crops that have been genetically-modified to produce their own pesticides. Gene transfer to non-target species Another concern is that crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds will cross-breed, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the crops into the weeds. These superweeds would then be herbicide tolerant as well. Other introduced genes may cross over into non-modified crops planted next to GM crops. The possibility of interbreeding is shown by the defense of farmers against lawsuits filed by Monsanto. The company has filed patent infringement lawsuits against farmers who may have harvested GM crops. Monsanto claims that the farmers obtained Monsanto-licensed GM seeds from an unknown source and did not pay royalties to Monsanto. The farmers claim that their unmodified crops were cross-pollinated from someone elses GM crops planted a field or two away. More investigation is needed to resolve this issue. There are several possible solutions to the three problems mentioned above. Genes are exchanged between plants via pollen. Two ways to ensure that non-target species will not receive introduced genes from GM plants are to create GM plants that are male sterile (do not produce pollen) or to modify the GM plant so that the pollen does not contain the introduced gene24, 25, 26. Cross-pollination would not occur, and if harmless insects such as monarch caterpillars were to eat pollen from GM plants, the caterpillars would survive. Another possible solution is to create buffer zones around fields of GM crops27, 28, 29. For example, non-GM corn would be planted to surround a field of B. t. GM corn, and the non-GM corn would not be harvested. Beneficial or harmless insects would have a refuge in the non-GM corn, and insect pests could be allowed to destroy the non-GM corn and would not develop resistance to B. t. pesticides. Gene transfer to weeds and other crops would not occur because the wind-blown pollen would not travel beyond the buffer zone. Estimates of the necessary width of buffer zones range from 6 meters to 30 meters or more30. This planting method may not be feasible if too much acreage is required for the buffer zones. Human health risks Allergenicity Many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods. There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. A proposal to incorporate a gene from Brazil nuts into soybeans was abandoned because of the fear of causing unexpected allergic reactions31. Extensive testing of GM foods may be required to avoid the possibility of harm to consumers with food allergies. Labeling of GM foods and food products will acquire new importance, which I shall discuss later. Unknown effects on human health There is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health. A recent article published in Lancet examined the effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats32, 33. This study claimed that there were appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes. Yet critics say that this paper, like the monarch butterfly data, is flawed and does not hold up to scientific scrutiny34. Moreover, the gene introduced into the potatoes was a snowdrop flower lectin, a substance known to be toxic to mammals. The scientists who created this variety of potato chose to use the lectin gene simply to test the methodology, and these potatoes were never intended for human or animal consumption. On the whole, with the exception of possible allergenicity, scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health. Economic concerns Bringing a GM food to market is a lengthy and costly process, and of course agri-biotech companies wish to ensure a profitable return on their investment. Many new plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented, and patent infringement is a big concern of agribusiness. Yet consumer advocates are worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small farmers and third world countries will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops, thus widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor. It is hoped that in a humanitarian gesture, more companies and non-profits will follow the lead of the Rockefeller Foundation and offer their products at reduced cost to impoverished nations. Patent enforcement may also be difficult, as the contention of the farmers that they involuntarily grew Monsanto-engineered strains when their crops were cross-pollinated shows. One way to combat possible patent infringement is to introduce a suicide gene into GM plants. These plants would be viable for only one growing season and would produce sterile seeds that do not germinate. Farmers would need to buy a fresh supply of seeds each year. However, this would be financially disastrous for farmers in third world countries who cannot afford to buy seed each year and traditionally set aside a portion of their harvest to plant in the next growing season. In an open letter to the public, Monsanto has pledged to abandon all research using this suicide gene technology35. How are GM foods regulated and what is the governments role in this process? Governments around the world are hard at work to establish a regulatory process to monitor the effects of and approve new varieties of GM plants. Yet depending on the political, social and economic climate within a region or country, different governments are responding in different ways. In Japan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that health testing of GM foods will be mandatory as of April 200136, 37. Currently, testing of GM foods is voluntary. Japanese supermarkets are offering both GM foods and unmodified foods, and customers are beginning to show a strong preference for unmodified fruits and vegetables. Indias government has not yet announced a policy on GM foods because no GM crops are grown in India and no products are commercially available in supermarkets yet38. India is, however, very supportive of transgenic plant research. It is highly likely that India will decide that the benefits of GM foods outweigh the risks because Indian agriculture will need to adopt drastic new measures to counteract the countrys endemic poverty and feed its exploding population. Some states in Brazil have banned GM crops entirely, and the Brazilian Institute for the Defense of Consumers, in collaboration with Greenpeace, has filed suit to prevent the importation of GM crops39,. Brazilian farmers, however, have resorted to smuggling GM soybean seeds into the country because they fear economic harm if they are unable to compete in the global marketplace with other grain-exporting countries. In Europe, anti-GM food protestors have been especially active. In the last few years Europe has experienced two major foods scares: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in Great Britain and dioxin-tainted foods originating from Belgium. These food scares have undermined consumer confidence about the European food supply, and citizens are disinclined to trust government information about GM foods. In response to the public outcry, Europe now requires mandatory food labeling of GM foods in stores, and the European Commission (EC) has established a 1% threshold for contamination of unmodified foods with GM food products40. In the United States, the regulatory process is confused because there are three different government agencies that have jurisdiction over GM foods. To put it very simply, the EPA evaluates GM plants for environmental safety, the USDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to grow, and the FDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to eat. The EPA is responsible for regulating substances such as pesticides or toxins that may cause harm to the environment. GM crops such as B. t. pesticide-laced corn or herbicide-tolerant crops but not foods modified for their nutritional value fall under the purview of the EPA. The USDA is responsible for GM crops that do not fall under the umbrella of the EPA such as drought-tolerant or disease-tolerant crops, crops grown for animal feeds, or whole fruits, vegetables and grains for human consumption. The FDA historically has been concerned with pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food products and additives, not whole foods. Under current guidelines, a genetically-modified ear of corn sold at a produce stand is not regulated by the FDA because it is a whole food, but a box of cornflakes is regulated because it is a food product. The FDAs stance is that GM foods are substantially equivalent to unmodified, natural foods, and therefore not subject to FDA regulation. The EPA conducts risk assessment studies on pesticides that could potentially cause harm to human health and the environment, and establishes tolerance and residue levels for pesticides. There are strict limits on the amount of pesticides that may be applied to crops during growth and production, as well as the amount that remains in the food after processing. Growers using pesticides must have a license for each pesticide and must follow the directions on the label to accord with the EPAs safety standards. Government inspectors may periodically visit farms and conduct investigations to ensure compliance. Violation of government regulations may result in steep fines, loss of license and even jail sentences. As an example the EPA regulatory approach, consider B.t. corn. The EPA has not established limits on residue levels in B. t corn because the B. t. in the corn is not sprayed as a chemical pesticide but is a gene that is integrated into the genetic material of the corn itself. Growers must have a license from the EPA for B. t corn, and the EPA has issued a letter for the 2000 growing season requiring farmers to plant 20% unmodified corn, and up to 50% unmodified corn in regions where cotton is also cultivated41. This planting strategy may help prevent insects from developing resistance to the B.t. pesticides as well as provide a refuge for non-target insects such as Monarch butterflies. The USDA has many internal divisions that share responsibility for assessing GM foods. Among these divisions are APHIS, the Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service, which conducts field tests and issues permits to grow GM crops, the Agricultural Research Service which performs in-house GM food research, and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service which oversees the USDA risk assessment program. The USDA is concerned with potential hazards of the plant itself. Does it harbor insect pests? Is it a noxious weed? Will it cause harm to indigenous species if it escapes from farmers fields? The USDA has the power to impose quarantines on problem regions to prevent movement of suspected plants, restrict import or export of suspected plants, and can even destroy plants cultivated in violation of USDA regulations. Many GM plants do not require USDA permits from APHIS. A GM plant does not require a permit if it meets these 6 criteria: 1) the plant is not a noxious weed; 2) the genetic material introduced into the GM plant is stably integrated into the plants own genome; 3) the function of the introduced gene is known and does not cause plant disease; 4) the GM plant is not toxic to non-target organisms; 5) the introduced gene will not cause the creation of new plant viruses; and 6) the GM plant cannot contain genetic material from animal or human pathogens (see http://www. aphis. usda.gov:80/bbep/bp/7cfr340 ). The current FDA policy was developed in 1992 (Federal Register Docket No. 92N-0139) and states that agri-biotech companies may voluntarily ask the FDA for a consultation. Companies working to create new GM foods are not required to consult the FDA, nor are they required to follow the FDAs recommendations after the consultation. Consumer interest groups wish this process to be mandatory, so that all GM food products, whole foods or otherwise, must be approved by the FDA before being released for commercialization. The FDA counters that the agency currently does not have the time, money, or resources to carry out exhaustive health and safety studies of every proposed GM food product. Moreover, the FDA policy as it exists today does not allow for this type of intervention. How are GM foods labeled? Labeling of GM foods and food products is also a contentious issue. On the whole, agribusiness industries believe that labeling should be voluntary and influenced by the demands of the free market. If consumers show preference for labeled foods over non-labeled foods, then industry will have the incentive to regulate itself or risk alienating the customer. Consumer interest groups, on the other hand, are demanding mandatory labeling. People have the right to know what they are eating, argue the interest groups, and historically industry has proven itself to be unreliable at self-compliance with existing safety regulations. The FDAs current position on food labeling is governed by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which is only concerned with food additives, not whole foods or food products that are considered GRAS generally recognized as safe. The FDA contends that GM foods are substantially equivalent to non-GM foods, and therefore not subject to more stringent labeling. If all GM foods and food products are to be labeled, Congress must enact sweeping changes in the existing food labeling policy. There are many questions that must be answered if labeling of GM foods becomes mandatory. First, are consumers willing to absorb the cost of such an initiative? If the food production industry is required to label GM foods, factories will need to construct two separate processing streams and monitor the production lines accordingly. Farmers must be able to keep GM crops and non-GM crops from mixing during planting, harvesting and shipping. It is almost assured that industry will pass along these additional costs to consumers in the form of higher prices. Secondly, what are the acceptable limits of GM contamination in non-GM products? The EC has determined that 1% is an acceptable limit of cross-contamination, yet many consumer interest groups argue that only 0% is acceptable. Some companies such as Gerber baby foods42 and Frito-Lay43 have pledged to avoid use of GM foods in any of their products. But who is going to monitor these companies for compliance and what is the penalty if they fail? Once again, the FDA does not have the resources to carry out testing to ensure compliance. What is the level of detectability of GM food cross-contamination? Scientists agree that current technology is unable to detect minute quantities of contamination, so ensuring 0% contamination using existing methodologies is not guaranteed. Yet researchers disagree on what level of contamination really is detectable, especially in highly processed food products such as vegetable oils or breakfast cereals where the vegetables used to make these products have been pooled from many different sources. A 1% threshold may already be below current levels of detectability. Finally, who is to be responsible for educating the public about GM food labels and how costly will that education be? Food labels must be designed to clearly convey accurate information about the product in simple language that everyone can understand. This may be the greatest challenge faced be a new food labeling policy: how to educate and inform the public without damaging the public trust and causing alarm or fear of GM food products. In January 2000, an international trade agreement for labeling GM foods was established44, 45. More than 130 countries, including the US, the worlds largest producer of GM foods, signed the agreement. The policy states that exporters must be required to label all GM foods and that importing countries have the right to judge for themselves the potential risks and reject GM foods, if they so choose. This new agreement may spur the U. S. government to resolve the domestic food labeling dilemma more rapidly. Conclusion Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the worlds hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Political Impact on Humans Essay -- History government Historical

The Political Impact on Humans Humans and Nature It is a proven fact that individuals need an organization of a government. Without order, no one would know how to act and how to behave. There are two different types of people; one group takes control of a given situation while the other lets the power be taken away from them. Without any setup of a government, a few people would be making the choices for many and not let everyone be represented in their government. These setups of government include a republic, communistic, fascist, and socialistic. Each of these examples has a central government but the power of the central government distinguishes the differences between them. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels both thought about their current government and how they could create a form of government that would surpass their existing one. The Manifesto of the Communist Party politically influenced the Marxist society, other societies of his time, and our modern day society. Marx and Engels were both reform thinkers and philosophers. They wanted to bring about a radical change; they saw the proletariat working for the bourgeoisie, the capitalists. Marx and Engels did not like the economic gap between the two classes; the richer were getting richer, while the working class remained poor. As humans, there is a want to make more money and live more lavishly. Most people get jealous and want to drive the nicest car, live in the largest house, wear the designer clothing, eat at fancy restaurants, and work at the most respectable job. Who wants to live in a shack, eat meagerly, and wear tattered clothing? No one does, it is human behavior that makes us jealous of what we do not have. ... ...ot compare with Russia or China. As a result, the world has proven that capitalism outperforms communism. The United States leads the world in technology, wealth, and knowledge and without capitalism; our country would be suffering economically. It is important to allow individuals control their own financial means and to give them enough freedom to live out their lives. http://eserver.org/marx/ http://marxists.org/index http://www.marxist.com Notes 1. Michael Lowry, â€Å"Globalization and internationalism: How up-to-date is the communist manifesto,† Monthly Review, 50 (1998): 6. 2. â€Å"Attack on capitalism,† Canada & the World Backgrounder, October 1999, 19. 3. Antonio Gilman, â€Å"The Communist manifesto, 150 years later,† Antiquity 72 (1998): 278. 4. Mark Skousen, â€Å"What’s left of Marxism?,† The Freeman, 48 (1998): 8.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Is Jaws a Horror Movie? Essay example -- Film Review

Is Jaws a Horror Movie? First, I will intend to take you on a brief journey through the horror genre and the conventions that have been associated. Second I will show you how these conventions are used in the film Jaws. Let’s take a closer look at the history of the horror genre. To get started we are going to start with the first era or as it’s called the silent era. This era was based on monsters such as Frankenstein (1910), Dracula (1912) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). The horror was all about the make up and the clever use of lighting, to add thrills. The first conventions were that we see are the ‘revealing of the monsters’ and the use of ‘isolated houses’ where the monsters are based. This left audiences feeling panicky. These films had to rely on the music, yet they still lack the big horror genre fear factor. Through the talkies little changed, they still had the monsters, the same monsters, the same storylines, but the Atomic Phase of the 1950s soon had a impact. Sci-fi and hammer movies took centre stage, Godzilla (1954) and The Blob (1958) box office hits. From here we moved on to the witchcraft and the undead such Peeping Tom (1960) and The Night of Dead () . New films brought with them new conventions. Zombie films trapped the audience, claustrophobic attack scenes when the zombies came closer towards the camera. Horror finally became horror with the slasher movie era. They became realistic but also they became more stylised. Based on a real life tragic such as, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Halloween (1978) and Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) screens where awash with blood. This is where we see male psycho, the unwilling hero and teenage trouble. There are also soul survivors that carry the seque... ...horror so it is a bit of both but compared to the horrors that we have now with all the blood and gore special effects that make it better and the 3d its nothing like the horror’s today. Compared to the final destination 3D jaws is not even scary because of the 3D it makes it better with the way that if someone has an axe or something chucked at them it comes out of the screen at you and it comes towards you therefore you think it’s going to hit you which makes you get scared and it makes the film more jumpy so there for I don’t think jaws is a horror even if it was in its time compared to now day films I say it is a thriller. My opinion is that Spielberg is still in his twenties when he made this film, this shows his talent for creating suspense, delivering shocks and defusing situations through humour and this shows he is building up to a great climax.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Birth of Pleasure by Carol Gilligan

Carol Gilligan Birth of Pleasure can be considered a research in social science. She has hypothesised certain theories regarding men and women behaviour. One of her main hypothesis is that women are different from men in various ways; she argues that female have a higher level of morality that cements the relation among sexes. At times she seems a feminist who is playing for female audience. She overcomes the limitation as the book flows.For example she starts the human life story from a child perspective that is â€Å"under father’s authority† (Pg 5). She mentions that in patriarchy society there are different ways of dealing with boys and girl. For example boys are forced to learn and be disciplined at a young age compared to female. Female are forced to learn from age 13 and above at puberty. The reason for such approach; she argues is the utility of women. In a patriarchal society, women become important when they become fertile; before fertility they have no existe nce.However the problem arises when a child becomes adult and he has to unlearn the older behaviour. Sometimes it is hard to undo the learned behaviour; deep inside sometimes adults feel guilty, if they do not follow the behaviour they have been taught in childhood. Gilligan does not argue in straight forward manner about the theme patriarchy in teenagers life, but the book overall covers the relationship between children and parents as pathologies.For example she mentions that boys have two choices; either becomes good boy or bad boy; either by following the parent’s instructions or negating them to create their own social identities. The problem with such approach is that boys cannot form their own identities with reference to their true self. For girls the process began at much later stage when they approach the puberty. She insists that girls are forced by mothers to follow their footsteps and behave according to the established norms of the society.This situation gives r ise to conflict and breaking of the bond that exists between parents and children. She insists that love is based on democracy; while the patriarchy is based on hierarchy of men and women. The result of such hierarchy is patriarchy; where individuals find pain in love rather than pleasure due to the inherent conflict (in these relations). She suggests that it is possible to find pleasure with in the social norms, if couples overcome their limited roles and try to unlearn the behaviour childhood behaviour.Gilligan has taken ideas from various sources, but she is able to develop her own ideas by studying life of children and couples including her own experience of life spiced with various Western myths and legends; such as Psyche and Cupid. She successfully weaves different pieces together to form one narrative immersing reader in interesting stories with one common theme. The positive effect of this style is that reader finds new interpretations about the stories and myths he is fami liar with.Gilligan sometimes seems to speak in a mystical language, when she declares that the yoke of Western love stories is made of tragedy because of the presence of patriarchy; where male justify their authority by trampling true feelings of women. Her idea of democracy of love seems un-restricted by social norms; such idea seems far from practical. All societies need to survive; the hierarchy allows a society to survive which may look cruel at time but this is how civilization are made from. Reference Gilligan, Carol (2002). The Birth of Pleasure. Random House.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Writing an IEP, An Individual Education Program

Writing an IEP, An Individual Education Program The individual education program- more generally known as an IEP- is s a written plan that describes the program(s) and special services a student requires to be successful. It is a plan that ensures that proper programming is in place to help the student with special needs to be successful at school.   If students with special needs are to achieve the academic curriculum or an alternative curriculum to the best of their ability and as independently as possible, the professionals involved in the delivery of their programming must have a plan in place. When writing an IEP, you need to include specific elements to satisfy legal requirements and to provide the best educational plan possible for the student. Elements of the IEP The IEP must contain  the students  present level of educational performance, the  results of any evaluations and tests,  special education and related services  to be provided,  accommodations and modifications to be provided for the student, supplementary aids and services, annual goals for the student, including how they will be tracked and measured, an explanation of how the student will participate in general education classes (the least restrictive environment), and the date the IEP will go into effect, as well as a transportation plan and extended school year services if applicable. IEP Goals The IEP goals should be developed with the following criteria: specificrealisticattainablemeasurablechallenging Before setting goals the team must first determine the present level of performance using various assessment tools, the needs must be clearly and specifically defined. When determining IEP goals consider the students classroom placement, is the student in the least hindering environment. Do the goals coordinate with the regular classroom activities and schedules and do they follow the general curriculum? After the goals have been identified, it is then stated how the team will help the student to achieve the goals, this is referred to as the measurable part of the goals. Each goal must have a clearly stated objective for how, where and when each task will be implemented. Define and list any adaptations, aides or supportive techniques that may be required to encourage success. Clearly explain how progress will be monitored and measured. Be specific about time frames for each objective. Expect goals to be achieved at the end of an academic year. Objectives are skills required to achieve the desired goal, objectives should be accomplished in shorter intervals. Team Members: IEP team members are parents of the student, special education teacher, classroom teacher, support workers, and outside agencies involved with the individual. Each member of the team plays a vital role in the development of a successful IEP. Education Program Plans can become overwhelming and unrealistic. A good rule of thumb is to set one goal for each academic strand. This enables the teams manageability and accountability to ensure that resources are available to help the individual achieve the desired goals. If the student IEP meets all of the students needs and is focused on skills for success, results and outcomes, the student with special needs will have every opportunity for academic achievement no matter how challenging their needs may be. Example of an IEP John Doe is a 12-year-old boy presently placed in a regular grade 6 classroom with special education support. John Doe is identified as ‘Multiple Exceptionalities’. A Pediatric assessment determined that John meets criteria for Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Johns anti-social, aggressive behavior, prevent him from achieving academic success. General Accommodations: Supervision for Non-Instructional TimeAttention/Focusing CuesSpecial Arrangements for Arrival/DepartureUse of Preferred Learning StyleSmall Group InstructionIn-Class Peer Tutor AssistanceReview, Retest, Re-EvaluateReduce Visual or Auditory DistractionsScribing or Oral ReportingLength of Time for Assessments/Assignments Annual Goal: John will work towards controlling compulsive and impulsive behavior, which negatively affects the learning of self and others. He will work towards interacting and responding to others in a positive way. Behavior Expectations: Develop skills to manage anger and resolve conflict appropriately. Develop skills to accept responsibility for self. Demonstrate dignity and respect for self and others. Develop a foundation for healthy relationships with peers and adults. Develop a positive self-image. Strategies and Accommodations Encourage John to verbalize his feelings. Modeling, role play, rewards, consequences using the assertive discipline approach. One-to-one teaching as required, one-to-one Educational Assistant support as required and relaxation exercises. Direct teaching of social skills, acknowledge and encourage acceptable behavior. Establish and use  consistent classroom routine, prepare for transitions well in advance. Keep as predictable a schedule as possible. Make use of computer technology where possible, and ensure John feels he is a valued member of the class. Always relate classroom activities to timetable and agenda. Resources/frequency/location Resources:  Classroom Teacher, Education Assistant, Integrations Resource Teacher. Frequency: daily as required. Location:  regular classroom, withdraw to  resource room  as required. Comments:  A program of expected behaviors and consequences will be established. Rewards for expected behavior will be given at the end of an agreed upon time interval. Negative behavior will not be acknowledged in this tracking format but will be identified to John and to home through a communication agenda.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Song Lyrics and Standard English

Song Lyrics and Standard English Song Lyrics and Standard English Song Lyrics and Standard English By Maeve Maddox According to a story in the NY Times, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh studied the 279 most popular songs from 2005 looking for references to drugs and alcohol. I’d like to see a study that tracks the repetition rate of nonstandard English in popular music. The Pennsylvania study found that some genres mention drugs and alcohol more than others. From my own cursory and unscientific survey, I conclude that nonstandard English is well represented across genres. (My observations are based on lyrics from songs mentioned in lists like the Top 40. There may be some better ones somewhere.) Song lyrics have more power to influence the language of young people now than they did in earlier generations. When I was growing up, I listened to songs on the radio at home, not while I was at school or walking around town. I had a record player and a small collection of records. My total listening time probably didn’t amount to more than two or three hours a week. Today’s adolescents spend an average of 16 hours a week listening to music. Nine out of ten in this age group have an MP3 player or a CD player in their rooms, and I’d guess that a great many younger children have them as well. Most American high schools operate on a 36-week schedule. Class sessions vary in length from 45 to 55 minutes. At best, a student never absent will receive about four and a half hours of English instruction a week for 36 weeks of the year; compare that to 16 hours of music consumption a week every week of the year: English instruction = 162 hours per year Music listening = 832 hours per year During those 832 hours, young music fans hear thousands upon thousands of repetitions of such constructions as: I feel the magic between you and I. –Eric Carmen When you cheated girl, my heart bleeded girl. – Justin Timberlake Can we conversate? –Young Rant/Shorty B. Can You handle me the way I are? –Timbaland Far too many stars have fell on me. –Dan Fogelberg As time goes by, you will get to know me a little more better. –Backstreet Boys The way my body feel/When you’re laying right beside me. –Sevyn Streeter Me and you are supose to be together. –Ashley Tisdale A blogger at the music site Hooks Harmony gives the crown for bad grammar to Beyoncà ©. Peter Lee’s article about â€Å"Get Me Bodied,† together with his translation of the song into standard English, is one of the funniest language laments I’ve ever read. The poor man gives it his best shot, but finally gives up: â€Å"I can’t finish this. I feel like I just translated the last half of Flowers for Algernon.† No one expects popular song lyrics to be written in formal English. The golden oldies had their share of gonnas, wannas, ain’ts and double negatives. But none of the songs from the 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s that I browsed while writing this post exhibit the vulgarity and verbal poverty of the lyrics of recent popular music. Efforts at school reform notwithstanding, the most competent English teachers in the world cannot compete with the steady indoctrination in vacuous and nonstandard English that goes on outside the classroom. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†Grammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesHow Do You Pronounce "Mozart"?

Sunday, October 20, 2019

What Teachers Should Wear in The Classroom

What Teachers Should Wear in The Classroom Most of us would prefer to wear sweatshirts and flip-flops to work, but when youre an elementary  or grade  school teacher, such luxuries are completely out of the question. Students, their parents, administrators, and the greater community all need to put their trust into educators to be mature, professional, capable, and competent. Like it or not, our outer appearance is their first indicator of these inner characteristics. Here are some of the factors that should go into choosing your teaching attire: ComfortProfessionalismIndividual personality While keeping the attributes mentioned above in mind, if you also use the following guidelines when assembling your teaching wardrobe, youre sure to be dressed for success. Loose-Fitting and Well-Tailored is Best If youre on the curvaceous side, avoiding clingy tops and backside-hugging bottoms is always a wise choice. Leave the muscle tees and spandex shirts at home as well no need to show off how much time youve put in at the gym. Stay Stylish, But Not Too Much So You want to appear somewhat hip to your students, but you dont need to blindly follow every passing fad to a fault. A teeny-bopper persona is not a professional one to cultivate when dealing with parents who prefer wise and responsible as teacher attributes for their young and impressionable children. Look for the classics in your closet or head to the mall for the old standards button-down blouses, cardigans, and tailored pants. Men dress pants or khakis and tucked-in button-downs are always a safe bet. Its a personal preference, perhaps, but depending on your school environment, sleeveless is sometimes considered too casual for the classroom. Consider sleeves or at the very least, no spaghetti or thin straps for a more put-together and adult look. As for makeup, a peacocks palette on your lovely face is not exactly classroom-appropriate. Save the more daring hues for home or the weekend. If You're Young, Be Extra Careful No ageism here just realism. If you are just starting out or look particularly young, its likely that you will be pre-judged as lacking teaching experience, so take steps to make your appearance more mature. This goes for men as well as women. In the age of Botox and obsession with youth, this might sound counter-intuitive, but teaching is one profession where a youthful look does not always inspire initial confidence; that is until your teaching chops show them whats really underneath your youthful exterior. For Shoes, Comfort is King Avoid trendy, too-high stiletto heels and opt for sensible flats or a shorter heel that can last all day. For both men and women, its a general bet that tennis shoes or sneakers are a no (but maybe for field trips or walk-a-thon day, you could get away with it). Leave the Bling at Home K-6 teaching is a tough and extremely hands-on job. Dont chance an accident or the loss of meaningful or expensive  jewelry. Simple, classic, and minimal are the keywords here.   These general tips should set you off on the right track as a teacher   putting your best foot forward and earning respect right off the bat.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Threat of new Entrants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Threat of new Entrants - Essay Example As a product, medical marijuana will provide increased competition especially because of the publication that it is receiving and perceptions that include many diseases that it can treat and improve symptoms. The capability for an entrant to satisfy a wide range of customer needs is a primary risk for the existing products (Vallaster et al., 2012). As a leader in the field of medicine, this is how I would assess the threat posed by medical marijuana. The strategies that I would implement to deal with this threat include corporate social responsibility and war gaming. Good corporate citizenship improves the reputation of an organization in the eyes of the communities and the customers who become loyal regardless of entrants. Considering that modern stakeholders are more interested in how organizations cater for the natural environment, an organization that practices the same is bound to not only retain but also increase its market share irrespective of entrants. In addition, the wargaming strategy would involve assessing how much the organization would be affected by entrants and devising ways of mitigating (Kaplan & Mikes, 2012). This would act as an opportunity for improvement. Personally, I think wargaming would be more effective although collaboration of both strategies would be more helpful with respect to future organizational performance. Moreover, I would also raise awareness with regard to the idea that the negative effects of medical marijuana overwhelm the perceived medicinal value.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Transformational Leadership Style as a Contributor to Motivation and Research Paper

Transformational Leadership Style as a Contributor to Motivation and Organizational Productivity - Research Paper Example The study involved 21 participants from the Hospital who represented both the directors and employees. The participants were picked at random using a stratified random sampling technique to ensure that each category of the target populations was represented. Quantitative data was collected from the 21 participants using questionnaires. The questionnaires had statements relevant to the relationships under investigation. The participants were supposed to agree or disagree with the statements. The quantitative data collected were analyzed using the SPSS software. The analysis provided descriptive and empirical descriptions of the responses. The findings of the study indicate that there is a strong and positive relationship between independent and dependent variables. In addition, the findings indicate that there is a strong relationship between employee motivation and organizational productivity. ... Improving employee motivation through transformational leadership and other strategies will help an organization to increase its productivity to higher levels. Organizations should equip their leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge in transformational leadership to enjoy its benefits. Despite the effects of transformational leadership on employee motivation and productivity, organizations should consider the internal context and the most likely response from employees to avoid negative effects in some parts of an organization. Employees react differently to changes in an organization especially in leadership and thus an abrupt introduction of transformational leadership may lower the level of motivation in some departments. Introduction Many past researchers have explored transformational leadership and thus, several definitions of transformational leadership exist. Hacker and Robert (2003, p. 3) define transformational leadership as â€Å"the comprehensive and integrated leadership capacities required of individuals, groups, or organizations to produce tran sformation as evidenced by the step-functional improvement.† Leadership is an exchange relationship between the leaders and followers and transformational leadership allows leaders to make their followers develop their sense of self-worth. Hacker and Robert (2003, p. 3) define transformational leaders as those who bring about a positive change in their followers and motivate them to do more than they had intended. Transformational leaders will cause their followers to exceed their traditional level of performance. This kind of leadership allows followers to revise their expectations and perform better than what they thought possible (Bass & Riggio, 2006, p. 4).

Foucault Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Foucault - Essay Example This evolution of his theory can be traced from 1960's to 1980's and reveal a pattern of study of how power influences decision-making. In 1960's he uses terms like 'contestation' and 'transgression' and uses them interchangeably. In 1970's Foucault moved to 'struggle' and 'resistance' which are again synonymous. And finally in 1980's he used the term 'agonism'. All these terms used through a period of time defining his core focus on the play of resistance, and Foucault's conceptualization of power rather than strict references made to limits. (AMOUDI) Foucault's power-resistance relation is a dynamic analysis of the modern day world. The groundwork of the role of power being laid in the previous theories which evolved between 1960's and 1970's, the economics of power has been more rigorously presented in these theories. Michel Foucault goes further to give a definition of power relations in an essay published in 1982: 'The exercise of power is not simply a relationship between partners, individual or collective; it is a way in which certain actions modify others' Although the exercise of power may need violence or consent, these are not inherent to a power relation. Moreover, one of the consequences of this limit to power is that resistance is the sine qua non condition for power. Indeed, a power relation, is not an action which determines another action, but an action which influences an other action by determining a field of possibility for it. In this field of possibility, ways of resisting are by definition present. The second limit set to power relations, therefore, is fight. According to Foucault, the goal of a fight is either to force the opponent to abandon the game (hence a victory which dissolves the power relation) or to set up a new relation of power. In other words, there is circularity between power relations open to fight and a fight aiming at power relations. Therefore there is a constant instability in a power relationship which excludes by definition any form of determinism. By stressing the ontological link between power and resistance, Foucault invites us to understand his reading of the mechanisms of power h e highlights. Power is to be understood then as a form of power, which is perpetually confronted with potential (and some time actual) resistance. (AMOUDI) In his book Order of Things and Foucault Reader, he addresses the power of observation and the impact of it on the observed. He emphasizes that observing people and judging them requires a degree of conformity, which is less obvious and subsequently, according to Foucault more powerful because of its restrained state. This same impact is seen in Panopticism where Foucault shows a transition in prison systems from physical manipulation to implicit manipulation. This new form of control is implemented through a physical construction that creates the illusion of continual surveillance. This surveillance creates the impetus for self-control. It is the power of being observed which places the role of control on the subjects. People control themselves out of a desire not to be looked down upon - to control their own public reputations. Panopticism works in a similar way - by continual observation or the illusion of continual observation, people are expected to continually discipline thems elves so as to avoid being disciplined by an external source (Foucault & Rabinow) The power which is

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Reducing mongoose in Hawaii Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reducing mongoose in Hawaii - Essay Example address the issue through mobilizing collective efforts by the public as well as the government agents responsible of wildlife conservation and management into resolving the issue. There is the need to have the endangered species of animals and plants (threatened by mongoose) saved while still conserving the mongoose because the retaliation efforts by the citizens present another threat to the mongoose species. This paper therefore proposes the creation of management/conservation zones for the mongoose in Hawaii, which would help through protecting them from human beings while at the same time reducing their detrimental effects towards human beings. The position of this paper that conserving the mongoose through conservancy zones would present an amicable solution to the current issue is because the solution has proven with other species on endangered species of wildlife. By keeping the species out of unauthorized interaction with human beings would allow them to breed to the capacity that the ecosystem would naturally support while reducing their risk of threatening existence of other species of animals and plants as claimed. Adaptive management has therefore been shown to be a paramount area of study in the 21st century especially with the increase in human populations and the resultant interference with natural ecosystem. The study is therefore not only interesting but also informative and presents an opportunity for people to devise practical solutions to emerging issues such as the one at hand. Hays, W. S., & Conant, S. (2007). Biology and impacts of Pacific Island invasive species. 1. A worldwide review of effects of the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (Carnivora: Herpestidae). Pacific Science, 61(1),

Co-Evolution of Innovation Policy and Industrial Structure in Sweden Term Paper

Co-Evolution of Innovation Policy and Industrial Structure in Sweden - Term Paper Example   As interaction in the society gives rise to the development of institutions, manifold arbitrary behaviors ushers in those institutions which come in practice and thus become stereotyped norms of those institutions followed through time. So institutions become dire indicators of several outcomes of the many domains of the society. It is a general notion that the key indicators that promote economic development are the levels of investment, education, culture, governmental policies, income etc. But if rather viewing in a more magnified way, the social scientists of the modern world have claimed that it is the primary role of social institutions whereby the lieu of interaction between independent agents play a dominant role in accumulating valuable resources and fetching profits for the society. This notion of the institution acting as the primordial driving force of economic development is resonated in different arrangements of the society like property rights, microfinance, busine ss associations, the advice of developmental agencies in proposing minimal state intervention implying pro market paradigm etc. Institutional variations are a huge domain of study and focus in the modern industrialized world as it has been the real fact that the so-called differences between developed and developing nations have emerged. Many countries have emerged as superpowers and many countries are still stuck in a vicious circle of poverty and the main reason for this can be attributed to the diverse institutional innovation policies adopted and successfully implemented in the former case and lack of implementation of institutional innovation policies in the latter case. However, there are many instances of developing countries coming from the periphery and emerging as a nucleus of growth potential.  

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Reducing mongoose in Hawaii Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reducing mongoose in Hawaii - Essay Example address the issue through mobilizing collective efforts by the public as well as the government agents responsible of wildlife conservation and management into resolving the issue. There is the need to have the endangered species of animals and plants (threatened by mongoose) saved while still conserving the mongoose because the retaliation efforts by the citizens present another threat to the mongoose species. This paper therefore proposes the creation of management/conservation zones for the mongoose in Hawaii, which would help through protecting them from human beings while at the same time reducing their detrimental effects towards human beings. The position of this paper that conserving the mongoose through conservancy zones would present an amicable solution to the current issue is because the solution has proven with other species on endangered species of wildlife. By keeping the species out of unauthorized interaction with human beings would allow them to breed to the capacity that the ecosystem would naturally support while reducing their risk of threatening existence of other species of animals and plants as claimed. Adaptive management has therefore been shown to be a paramount area of study in the 21st century especially with the increase in human populations and the resultant interference with natural ecosystem. The study is therefore not only interesting but also informative and presents an opportunity for people to devise practical solutions to emerging issues such as the one at hand. Hays, W. S., & Conant, S. (2007). Biology and impacts of Pacific Island invasive species. 1. A worldwide review of effects of the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (Carnivora: Herpestidae). Pacific Science, 61(1),

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

How the Elements of Poetry Have An Effect on a Poem Essay

How the Elements of Poetry Have An Effect on a Poem - Essay Example On the other hand, a metaphor refers to the comparison of two phenomena but without the use of as, like or such. The metaphor usually states that one phenomenon is in fact another. Throughout this poem the entire concept of happiness was embodied with the use of metaphors and similes. Firstly, the author began the poem with the idea of an early morning setting. The imagery used to denote how early was the fact that ‘it was still dark out’. It appears that the poet used an extended metaphor of early morning to denote happiness. Every minute detail of the morning was ultimately equated to happiness. From the apparent darkness of the early morning to the welcoming light, which causes the moon to fade, indicate the sheer extent of the poet’s happiness. The activity of the two boys in the street every step they made brought happiness closer and closer until ‘it goes beyond, really’ - beyond the immediate gaze of the poet to another location where happiness would continue. The early morning darkness surrendering to the light of the day also gives continuity to happiness because another early morning would appear sometime ‘beyon d’ this instantaneous setting. Interestingly, he used the notion of tangible things to connote the intangible. Hence ‘early morning stuff’ was compared to deep ‘thought’ in the mind of the poet. Thus, the use of this metaphor allows the reader to view ‘thought’ as a normal part of early morning activity such as brushing one’s teeth or bathing. Thought takes on the added dimension of early morning ‘stuff’. The author then uses the comparison of silence with happiness. Thus, the metaphor is the equation of silence to happiness. The poet conveys, ‘they are so happy they aren’t saying anything.’ Clearly, the poet believes that true happiness signifies the unspoken word and the lack of noise or interference to disturb the position of happiness. Happiness now has a voice that refuses to

Establishing Special Courts Catering to Human Trafficking Cases Essay Example for Free

Establishing Special Courts Catering to Human Trafficking Cases Essay Last 2012, Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, an envoy from the United Nations visited the Philippines to observe the situation of human trafficking in the country. Ms. Ezeilo stated that â€Å"the Philippines is undoubtedly a source country for human trafficking, and the problem is not declining. † One of the solutions she proposed to address the problem were special courts catering to human trafficking cases. (Reyes, 2012. ) Human trafficking thrives in poverty lack of education, which are the main catalysts for individuals to be ushered into trafficking. (â€Å"An introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008. These are some of the problems the government is facing, and the two are very interconnected because they are the cause and effects of each other. Poverty leads to lack of education, and lack of education leads to poverty. The government is doing what they can to help minimize the issue, but they admit that it would take some time. (Sisante, 2008. ) Education is a way to combat trafficking, due to the fact that education leads to decent employment, and a well-informed individual would be more aware of the dangers of being trafficked, thus preventing it to happen in his/her life. However, ideal this may sound, it is not possible to solve poverty and lack of education in a snap. There has to be other solutions to consider that could be done now and would have a great impact. The establishment of special courts tackling specifically human trafficking-oriented cases is a practical solution that would greatly expedite the process of punishing human traffickers and by extension greatly reduce the number of cases of human trafficking in the Philippines, helping alleviate its social, economic, and political consequences. Before special courts as a solution is to be discussed any further, it is important to define what a special court is. Specialized courts are defined by the International Journal for Court Administration as â€Å"tribunals of narrowly focused jurisdiction to which all cases that fall within that jurisdiction are routed. † (Zimmer, 2009) The following paragraphs are going to discuss the counterarguments against special courts, and would be briefly refuted before the three main arguments in favor of special courts are presented. The opposition may claim special courts as an unnecessary expenditure and inaccessible. They claim that it is unnecessary because the creation of new courts is onerous and constitutes unnecessary expenditures, particularly if cases are seasonal, and funds could go to waste if it remains idle. (Zimmer, 2009. ) The creation of a court would automatically imply expenditures. The court has to pay for the administrative costs, the physical court, and other expenses needed to assist the victims, like court psychiatrists. It would also require effort on the judiciary, and the Supreme Court, due to the fact that special courts have to be set-up with care in order for its potential in eliminating cases to be maximized. Zimmer, 2009) However, funding is not a strong argument, because the government has money. It is the proper allocation of the funds, or budgeting that is in question. The government has established special courts for environmental cases in 2008, 117 to be exact. (Salaveirra, 2008) If the government has placed effort enough to set up courts to save the environment, shouldn’t it be a priority to set up courts to fight for human trafficking victims, who have been robbed of their rights? Human rights should always be kept in the priority list of the government. Recently, it has been reported that the government is funding the Department of Health with 500 million pesos for contraceptives for the year 2013. One of their aims was to ‘combat poverty’. (Fernandez, 2012. ) This shows that the government tries to prioritize the poor, however it just shows that they haven’t thought of more practical ways to combat poverty, without being morally questionable, and without robbing humans the right to life. Chief Justice Puno stated that preservation of human rights and the right to life should be considered more than the financial burden a special court entails. Rempillo, 2007. ) This is what the special court for human trafficking should be for, to fight for rights. A $1. 5 million budget or almost ? 65 million is allotted by the national government to support operations against human trafficking, prosecution of offenders, and for the protection of the public. (IACAT, 2012. ) The special courts would allow this budget to be maximized to its full potential in expediting human trafficking cases. Public access could also be limited. Some judges prefer not to be in a special court setting because it limits their trials to criminal cases. Bakker, 1997) Public access may also be limited due to the fact that you cannot establish it everywhere, and the judges are most likely to stay in their respective courts. If public access is considered a problem, then strategically locating these physical courts would be the solution. To place special courts in accessible areas in which the cases are numerous could actually help the victims to easily access justice. Some judges may not want to be in a special court setting because it limits their trials to specific criminal cases. (Bakker, 1997. However, this could turn into an advantage because if they keep seeing the same class of cases over and over again, they could render out decisions faster and more efficiently, due to a better understanding of the cases that they deal with. (Zimmer, 2009. ) There are three solutions to human trafficking: prosecution, prevention, and protection. (EHTN, n. d. ) The establishment of special courts would aid in prosecution, due to the speedy justice it serves, prevention, since it is an effective deterrent for criminals involved, and protection, due to its aims in protecting the victims, and the witnesses during the timeframe of the case. The following paragraphs would elaborate more on why special courts should be established. Firstly, special courts would aid in prosecution and are practical. This is supported by the prevalence of human trafficking, the poor enforcement of justice, specifically in human trafficking cases, the need to distinguish human trafficking as a family of cases that should be differentiated from labor contract violations, the legal precedents such as previous special courts set-up for heinous crimes, and the successful implementation of human trafficking courts in other nations. Human trafficking is a serious issue in the Philippines. As pointed out by the UN envoy Ezeilo, the Philippines is a source country for human trafficking. (Reyes, 2012. ) This is due to the fact that when Filipinos go abroad for work opportunities, they get vulnerable to recruitment by fraudulent recruitment agencies. Internal trafficking is also a serious issue because forced labor, prostitution, child labor, and other forms of trafficking are victimizing people who are moving from rural areas to urban centers. [para, US Department of State, 2011 as cited by (â€Å"Human Trafficking in East Asia Pacific.. , n. d. )] The rise of human trafficking cases in the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas region, is 97% in 2012, in comparison to the cases filed in 2010. There were 436 human trafficking victims in Central Visayas alone. (â€Å"State prosecutors see increase.. †, 2012) Another alarming detail is the prevalence of child labor. There has been an estimation of more than 2. 2 million working children aged 15-17 in the country. (US Department of State, 2011. as cited by (â€Å"Human Trafficking in East Asia Pacific.. †, n. d. It is also believed that 60,000-100,000 Filipino children are involved in prostitution rings. (Challenger, 2010. ) The previous information stated imply that there are thousands of potential cases to be filed, and special courts would help in fast-tracking the cases to avoid backlog, and to insure fair and speedy justice. The government has fallen short in the enforcement of justice in dealing with human trafficking cases. There were 680 pending or ongoing cases, and an additional 129 cases pending at the Department of Justice during the year 2012. â€Å"Trafficking in Persons.. †, 2012. ) This shows a huge amount of backlog and ongoing cases, which shows the prevalence of the cases, and the lack of efficiency on the part of the judiciary when it comes to dealing with human trafficking cases. In the Philippines, it takes three to four years to conclude human trafficking cases, which supports the previous statement about the inefficiency of the judiciary. Human trafficking is a family of cases. It is an organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited. Forms of human trafficking include sex trafficking, forced labor, child labor, selling of organs, and recruitment of children in military work, are forms of human trafficking. (â€Å"Human Trafficking: Organized Crime.. †, 2012) These crimes (except for the selling of organs) are usually confused with labor contract violations, in which the special court would come in handy. In 2012, there have only been two out of twenty-nine traffickers convicted for labor exploitation, showing that the judiciary is not paying enough attention to it. â€Å"Trafficking in Persons †, 2012. );(Reyes, 2012. ) The special court would help differentiate the two, and allow the human trafficking cases to be dealt with properly. (â€Å"Trafficking in Persons †, 2012) Expertise and uniformity are traits of special courts, and could be put to good use so that there is consistency in applying the law. The expertise of judges in specialized courts are likely to produce better decisions in t he respective cases and are less likely to generate appeals to be taken. (Zimmer, 2009. ) The judiciary has established several special courts for other cases, which gives a legal precedent for human trafficking courts. The Administrative circular no. 104-96 from the Supreme Court discusses the establishment of special courts that cater to heinous crimes for speedy and efficient justice. (â€Å"Administrative Circular No. 104-96†, 1996) This document shows that special courts have been done before, so it implies that it can be done again. Environmental courts, extrajudicial killings, and tax courts are some of the examples of special courts established in the Philippines. Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento of the first district of Samar is pushing for the creation of special courts for human trafficking, saying that â€Å"the Philippines is close to Somalia and Myanmar as regards trafficking, merchandising their people like cattle. If congress can create courts for drug traffickers why not a court for human traffickers too? (Quirante, 2010. ) In other nations such as Dubai and India, special human trafficking courts have been effectively established. Dubai believes that the special human trafficking courts established would speed up cases. Constantine, 2010. ) Meanwhile, the human trafficking court in Mumbai disposed a large backlog of cases in a span of a year, which included 438 cases, and convictions in 81 cases. It also ordered the closure of 11 brothels. (â€Å"US Officials Impressed†, 2011) This proves that it is an effective solution to exercise justice, and to help bring criminals behind bars. A political benefit that the Philippines could gain from establishing special courts is the improvement of the nation’s ranking in the United States’ Trafficking in Persons Report. Currently, the nation is ranked in tier 2, which means that the country is making significant efforts to fight human trafficking, but it does not yet meet minimum standards. Why should the nation take an effort in improving our tier ranking? If the nation falls into tier 3, the US would withhold or withdraw non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance as a consequence. (â€Å"Tiers: Placement †, 2011) This is important because not only would the country be able to maintain the implementation of rights, but also maintain good diplomatic relations with the United States. Secondly, special courts would help prevent human trafficking. This is due to the fact that the courts would be an effective deterrent to the criminals involved in the crime. It would lessen the economic advantages and benefits that make the industry appealing to people, and it would help alleviate the economic and political consequences of human trafficking. When the suspects, and people who are interested in getting involved in the industry, see that justice is being enforced, they will eventually act on their fear of being caught and possibly stop in their advances. If not, the possibility of them being caught could possibly increase as society becomes more and more aware of human trafficking, and more confident in filing complaints as they see justice being served. Not only would it put criminals behind bars, but it would also put their name to shame. In the first quarter of 2013, a new law was signed by President Benigno Aquino. Republic Act 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012, removed the confidentiality provision in the previous law, RA 9208. RA 9208 does not allow the names and circumstances of the victims and the criminal to be made public at any stage of investigation, rescue, prosecution and trial. With the confidentiality clause removed, this allows the public to know the identity of the criminals, so as not to risk being victimized by them. (Punay, 2013. ) With the special court at hand, the criminals would not only be humiliated publicly, but they will be put to justice quickly. Special courts could aid in alleviating the loss of human resources due to trafficking. In human trafficking, the labor force is misused and therefore, is kept from contributing to the nation’s economy that causes the loss of revenue. (â€Å"An introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008) The labor force should be able to provide for their family and contribute to taxes for the betterment of the nation, but with the potential labor force being exploited in human trafficking, this does not allow them to do so. With putting the criminals behind bars in a more efficient way, it prevents people from being trafficked in the first place. Special courts could also eventually help stop the unlawful distribution of national wealth, and influences markets, political power, and societal relations. (â€Å"An introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008) Traffickers affect fair competition due to the fact that some companies outsource their productions for a cheaper price, not knowing that trafficked people are used in the factories. Traffickers make 32 billion annually. Not only is it untaxed, but people who actually provided the labor do not gain from this. (â€Å"An Introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008. ) Special courts would also lessen human trafficking’s political implications due to illegal immigration. Migration policies are tightened because of illegal immigration. Due to these policies, victims are forced to enter other countries illegally, and when they are caught, the may be considered as collaborators which makes the implementation of rights as an issue. (â€Å"An introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008. ) This could also lead to giving people difficult time in looking for better work opportunities abroad, due to the fact that they could not migrate easily. It benefits people in a way that trafficking could be prevented, but traffickers find other ways to get the victims through the borders. Trafficking victims and smuggled people are different because smuggled people gain their freedom when they reach their destination while trafficked victims are not. (â€Å"An introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008. ) With the courts established, and the criminals sent behind bars, the opportunity for them to traffic more innocent people in ther nations, where they are subject to human rights violations. It is important to refer to the Mumbai Special court, that was successful in eradicating trafficking in the city to some extent due to the closing of human-trafficking related businesses, and justice being served to the criminals. (â€Å"US Officials Impressed †, 2011) Lastly, special courts would reintegrate the victim to society faster. Human trafficking, as a grave violation to human rights, has a psychological effect on victims. The protection of the victims and the witnesses during the timeframe of the case’s trial is also a vital need required of the law, and without this protection, the timeframe is lengthened. There is also a need to make society realize that the victim was at no fault to push it to accept the victim again. How do these things contribute to faster reintegration of the victim to society? Psychological and medical help is required of the law, and it is the court’s duty to make sure that the victim gets to enjoy these benefits. RA 9208, 2003. ) Most human trafficking victims experience post-traumatic stress, which should be brought into attention so that it could be alleviated, thus helping the victim live a normal life again. (Williamson, Dutch, Clawson, 2012. ) This is due to the victims being drugged or being deprived of their basic needs such as food as â€Å"motivation† to work by their traffickers. (Challenger, 2010. ) It is presumed that the specialized court wou ld assist the victims properly, and according to their needs. (Reyes, 2012. ) Another responsibility of the court is to ensure protection of not only the victim, but also the witness. It is required by the Anti-Trafficking law. (RA 9208, 2003. ) This would insure protection so that both victims and witnesses won’t be afraid to tell the truth. (Reyes, 2012. ) Dubai believes that the special human trafficking court would provide a safe environment for witnesses. (Constantine, 2010. ) Fear suppresses the implementation of justice. Fear of retaliation causes the victims and/or witnessed to withdraw or decline cooperation which leads to a lengthy trial. In 2010, only 3 trafficking cases were assisted by the Department of Justice due to unwillingness of the victims. (US Department of State, 2011. as cited by (â€Å"Human Trafficking in East Asia Pacific.. †, n. d. ) The less time it takes to conclude the case, the easier it is for the victim to cooperate, because in slow trials, there is a fear of the possibility of the accused party could retaliate and scare off the victim and/or witnesses. In Philippine Special Courts, mandatory continuous trial that should be terminated within 60 days and the decision should be rendered within 30. â€Å"Administrative Circular No. 104-96†, 1996) This timeframe is reasonable enough to allow the court to collect evidences and investigate, and for the judge to study the case well in order to render a fair decision. Special courts, when they implement justice, would help society realize that the victim was not at fault. It would help society accept the victim. In most cases, being traff icked affects the social stigma of the victim, who is disapproved for returning without promised wealth. Society has the tendency to blame the victim for disgracing his/herself and his/her family due to the fact that they don’t realize that the trafficker is at fault, and not the victim. (â€Å"An introduction to Human Trafficking†, 2008. ) With the special court, it would be made clear that the victim was, indeed a victim, and did not consent to the injustices that he/she suffered. This would also show that the government is, indeed, taking the issue seriously, and will do what they can to make sure that the offenders pay for their crimes. It would also help society become aware of the seriousness of human trafficking as an issue in the country. The establishment of special courts is a good and practical solution that could be immediately applied by the nation. With the implications that the establishment of the special courts is to be well-studied by the judiciary for good implementation, resulting in good, educated decisions in choosing qualified staff, strategic placement of physical courts, then the special court would be maximized in helping towards the eradication of human trafficking.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Stratetgic Management Report On Loreal

Stratetgic Management Report On Loreal LOreal was started by Eugene Schueller who was a French chemist who came out with a bright idea of hair colour formula Aureole. He was so innovative that he created his own products and sell it to Parisian hairdressers. The company was enrolled in 1909. Gradually he took off the market with his latest product which coloured the hair properly. It was in 1939, when the whole team named the company LOreal and constructed the headquarters in Paris. The headquarters were highly equipped with the latest technologies and machines. The experimenters had a great time working in the laboratories which made beauty products In terms of research and development LOreal every year promotes 100 of new formulas and almost 500 patents. The company is said to be the dean in the research patterns in the cosmetic company. The famous slogan because I m worth it was first started in 1971 in the United States the better sales of the hair colours which LOreal produced. Today it has almost 500 manufacturing plants all over the world which is operating in a very fast pace. Because I m worth it has become the tagline for LOreal which is known across the globe in different languages. Strategic Profile SWOT Analysis Talking about our strength LOreal has the best brand image till date. It has 586 patents for research and development. Products which are produced are very diversified and not to forget it has a very strong corporate social responsibility policy. While we talk about the opportunities LOreal has a very good chance of emerging with different market in developing countries. As we all know that everyone today is skin conscious thats the reason why cosmetic market is a boom and if LOreal makes the best out of this than they are a hit in the industry. There are few threats that LOreal might face are the upcoming local players which are emerging in the new market expansion. Brand cannibalization is also the biggest threat for LOreal in this competitive world. PORTERS FIVE FORCES Porter has stated five different competitive forces that every industry uses for the good profit of the organization. The combined effort of all five forces will help the industry to go on a profit margin. He has also stated that these five forces bring stability in any organization. The capacity of the buyers at LOreal is very high because there are number of products and every organization is trying their best to please the customers with their service. At loreal the bargaining power of the dealers are really low because LOreal has achievements of brand. It always has a long term and active relationship with the dealers. Destruction clash in any of the beauty industry is expected. They are a lot of cosmetic company which are trying to come up to LOreals position but the most dominant competitor are Unilever and Procton and Gamble. The threat of new company coming up is very less because it is really hard for any company to start up from the scratch and come up to the worlds largest giant in no time . PEST ANALYSIS Every organization must follow some strategy for their growth and existence in the business. LOreal also follows the PEST analysis because they believe that it will help the business to run smoothly in the present and future. Political Analysis As we all know that LOreal is a giant multinational company which has been spread out to different countries. So the set of rules, laws, legislation and business practices differ from one country to another and the company must follow the law of the country they operate in. Economical Analysis Today the economical status of any country are a little on the lower side so LOreal may see a lack of consumer demand on their products and the company has to follow the government plan to make the companies economy a little high. Social Analysis We have seen LOreals advertisements always done by some celebrities so that might cause problem for LOreal because the ordinary people think that celebrities are just doing those advertisements for popularity or for money. Technological Analysis As we all know that the world today operates in a very high technology world so LOreal also needs to keep up to the change in order to make a market position in the mind of consumers. Strategic Position: Strategic Capabilities Physical Resources: LOreal produces all types of cosmetics products for both men and women. It is a very fast growing company which plans to open more outlets in India. Till date LOreal has always done good sales at every part of the world where they have retail stores. Financial resources: LOreal sales for the year 2011 were 20.3 billons and 613 patents were filed. Human resources: LOreal has 60,000 employees from all across the world. The company looks for employees who are willing to live up to the brand standards and expectation. They also want the employees to be assets for the brand in the future and most importantly raise the profit margin for the company. Core Competencies: The most important core competency of LOreal is its product innovation. LOreal is always looking for that extra something in their product. The company devotes the maximum time in research and development. The products which finally come out have gone through a lot of research because LOreal believes in research a lot. The Strategic Position: Strategic Purpose Vision LOreal wants to be a company which is environment friendly and a company which is economically successful. And a workplace where employees love to work in harmony. Mission The companys mission is to produce products which will be liked and accepted by all the new and old customers. It wishes to be a brand which will be every ones choice starting from youngsters to old generation ladies. Corporate Social Responsibility LOreal is listed as one of the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations, according to Mecleans.Ca in June 2010 (Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporation). LOreal is devoted to an eco-responsible work model and is courteous of their social and environmental responsibilities. LOreal has showcased that they are committed to being socially responsible, by aiding HIV/AIDS awareness, coining safe and environmentally friendly manufacturing plants and their endless commitment of making efforts to go green has directed to the construction of environmentally free from harm goods. They are even working on discarding animal testing is one of their main goals. At the end, providing growth opportunity and advocating female leaders within the organization and their dedication to women in science are few ways LOreal flaunts their oath to social responsibility. (By Litmissme Mar 2012) Value Chain Analysis Value chain analysis is a very important tool in any organization to function properly. It helps to describe the machines, equipments, money and people but only the proper and effective use of all this resources will help activities that are taking place in or around the organization. All companies have the company to produce a product and please the customers. Inbound logistics Arranging the scope of products of sales outlets and promising continuing customers comfort there is an important goal of LOreal. In this aspect, logistics group regularly collude with suppliers to boost the companys shared performance in the field in a deep rooted manner. (www.loreal.com) As one of the leading brands in the cosmetics and beauty industry, LOreal USA is aware that customer loyalty is planted on trust and corporate responsibility. From goods quality to sustainability acts to supply chain security, LOreal is devoted to living up to customer expectations. As part of that commitment to safety and in its role as a large-volume shipper, LOreal lately brought about an innovative carrier-vetting program that helps to ensure that it uses only safe contract carriers to haul its freight. (By Cindy H.Dubin Oct 2011) Operations In this step the raw materials are gathered together and a product is formed. LOreal has 37 cosmetic plants each one has a very different technology. LOreals policy is to produce products very close to the market so that they can have good relation with the suppliers. (Anon., n.d.) Outbound Logistics In this stage the products which are produced in the manufacturing plants are delivered to retailers, suppliers, different outlets and the customers. LOreal has different manufacturing plants in different countries so if they have to send products to other regions than they normally use transportation. Marketing and sales In this stage the products are ready to be sold out to customers so the company makes different marketing scheme to sell the product. This is what LOreal states Creativity is the air we breathe it nourishes our inspiration and shapes our ideas, enabling us to launch 500 new products every year. At LOreal, marketing which fine-tunes these ideas is right at the heart of our strategy. (Anon., n.d.) Services In this stage the company looks into the after service of the products. LOreal particularly does not have any after service but they make sure that the customers go back home with a smile on their face with their products. Procurement In this stage the company purchases raw materials for business at the best price they can. LOreal thinks that exchanging is the best procurement to keep the company running. (smith, n.d.) Technology Development LOreal has a very good technology department at their company. In todays competitive world internet is a must for all employees at work at all times. Technology can be used in many ways and LOreal is also using high end technology to produce their products. Human resource management In this stage the company has to recruit, train and develop the right people for the organization to run smoothly. LOreal looks for someone who is right for the organization because that person has to work with 60,000 employees of more than 100 nationalities. The HR department at LOreal looks for someone who will respect the organizations value and ethics with time. (Anon., n.d.) Firm Infrastructure In order to run properly for any organization the management team should be very good. The infrastructure of the organization should also be strong. LOreal has a very strong organizational chart which is headed by the chairperson than 4 managing directors for different market segments and other stakeholders. Corporate Level Strategy Everyone has always seen LOreal as one of the glamorous, glittery and the most wanted brands of cosmetics in the world. Far away from the cosmetic counters, LOreal is walking the walk when it comes to its corporate values of diversity, innovation and individual talent. (Anon., 2008) Business Level Strategy In this level the company makes policies on how to make their product more friendly to the customers and become consumers best choice. Likewise LOreal targets to gain 1 billon consumers by 2020. The company is really working hard to make this happen. For example LOreal has been expanding its market to developing countries like Mexico and India where the purchasing power of the consumers are really high and the company is going at the right track to achieve its target. LOreal has also looked upon the grooming part of men these days. They have been promoting different products through social media and amazingly the products are being purchased at a good scale. And the most recent innovation that LOreal is focusing is they have put forwarded a deal to buy the makeup brand Urban Decay. Critical Theme The process of transforming any idea or thought into a products which is valued or the customers are ready to pay for is known as innovation. (Anon., n.d.) Innovation plays a very important role in the growth and well being of a business. Innovation in a company improves every department in a positive way. Innovation is not necessary to be a big one it can be a small one but has to be effective and a good one for the company. Innovation at LOreal is happening every now and then. The company has a different department for innovation and research. LOreal is successful in innovations because they are able to achieve both long term and short term goals. (mturilin, 2009) Customer Perspective For the smooth running of any company or organization the customers wants, needs and wishes should be looked after. If the wants and needs of the customers are not meet than there is no use of spending so much to produce any products. Before manufacturing any product a market research should be done in order to be aware of the demand of the buyers. The team at LOreal is very particular about the wants and needs of the market. They always do a market research before any product is launched. Conclusion We can without any doubt say that LOreal is the top cosmetic brand in the world today because it has used all the necessary strategies and policies which help in the wellbeing of the organization. It has a lot of innovative skills because of the employees from different parts of the world who have come together as a team and worked together to achieve that target for the organization. LOreal is the right choice for every lady all across the globe. It is very vast and the product ranges from hair colours to nail polish at any retail outlets across the road.